THE UNHERALDED Jose Maria College Kings of Davao made all of national basketball take notice after they eked past the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, 80-78, in overtime to capture the 64th National Students Basketball Championships which was held in Dagupan City.
The Kings actually had control of the lead for most of the way until the Generals came alive in the third period with Ralph Sanchez canning a jumper to give them a 64-59 lead.
JMC, which is mentored by Dong Cagampang and his assistants Dindo Pastor and Nick Serafica, put together an 8-0 run to regain a 67-64 edge.
After King star Joshua Adalid struck for a twinner with barely a minute left for a 69-66 JMC lead, the Generals’ wingman Jan Jamon struck for five consecutive points, including a three-point play, to go ahead, 71-69, with 16 ticks remaining. Two free throws by burly EAC frontliner Francis Cutin two seconds later deadlocked the count at 71-all and sent the game into a five-minute extension.
EAC was still in front, 75-74, after a putback by Jamon when JMC scored six consecutive points, including a three by Adalid, that sealed the title for them, 80-75, with just 10 seconds left.
JMC got 16 points from Adalid, who earned Most Valuable Player honors in the process. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio